Cheesy Taco Rice Skillet

a taco skillet with melted cheese and sliced avocado

A quick and easy protein-packed Mexican skillet recipe made with lean ground beef, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and shredded cheese. Ready in under 30 minutes.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Total Time 25

Servings

Calories 399kcal

Author Amee

Equipment

1 Large oven-proof skillet

Ingredients

1 lb lean ground beef
½ medium onion diced
3 tbsp taco seasoning
½ cup prepared salsa storebought or homemade- any salsa that is not thick and chunky will work great here.
15 oz can black beans drained and rinsed
15 oz can sweet corn *not drained
10 oz can diced tomatoes and green chiles
8.5 oz bag Ready Rice microwaved according to package directions- I used Uncle Ben's Spicy Mexican style rice
4 oz Colby Jack cheese shredded from the block
optional garnishes: fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips

Instructions

Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat and spray with avocado oil spray (or olive oil).
Add the ground beef and onions and cook for 8-10 minutes until the meat is no longer pink and the onions are soft.
Preheat the oven to Broil and place the rack in the middle setting.
Add the taco seasoning and salsa to the ground beef and onions and stir well to combine.
Add the drained black beans, undrained corn, and undrained diced tomatoes to the skillet. Stir, and simmer for 5-6 minutes until most of the liquid has cooked down.
Add the cooked rice to the skillet, stir well, and top with the shredded cheese.
Broil, watching carefully, until cheese is bubbly (about a minute or so). Garnish and serve.

Notes

Shred your own cheese! Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that affect how well it melts. So, again, shred your cheese fresh from the block for the best melting and texture.

No oven-safe skillet? If your skillet isn’t oven-safe, prepare the beef and rice mixture on the stove as instructed, then transfer the mixture to a baking dish, top with cheese, and broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Add other aromatics – Such as diced bell peppers and minced garlic. Simply sauté them with the onions for enhanced flavor.

Make it spicier – For those who like it hot, increase the spiciness by adding diced jalapeños, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or a splash of hot sauce. You can also use a spicier salsa.

Cook rice from scratch – Instead of ready rice, opt for long-grain rice, brown rice, or even cauliflower rice. Cook it separately and then fold it into the skillet mixture before adding the cheese.

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